Patch.com, owned and operated by AOL, and made up of a collection of local news websites for individual towns throughout the country, is rapidly expanding into Massachusetts, and may come to Walpole soon. Patch has already set up a Westwood local news website, featuring news on a variety of local events, sports, and more, that appear to come from professional journalists and freelance contributors and photographers throughout Westwood. They have police logs and lists of events, and even obituaries.
Patch.com is actively hiring editors throughout the country to help it expand its local news lineup, and with Patch moving swiftly through Massachusetts communities, including most recently in Jamaica Plain and the South End, it is very possible that it will hit Walpole soon. If so, it will be interesting to see how much of a threat it will present to WalpoleNews.com and The Walpole Times‘ so-called “hyper-local website”, and also even to this blog. It looks like Patch, like most news websites, will be making most of their money off of advertising.
To be honest, if I had a degree in journalism, I myself might have applied to become a local editor for Patch and bring it to Walpole. But I would probably prefer to stay at Sam Obar 180 anyway. Perhaps this would be a good opportunity for any Walpole resident out there who has an interest in journalism but has never been given the opportunity to work in the industry. Patch is seeking you! Check it out at patch.com!
